CANSA members participating in the Global Day of Action Climate Justice March at COP27 to demand action on loss and damage finance, climate finance, energy justice, and protecting human rights and civil liberties.
Dear Friend,
These are challenging times. The second part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)–the first after 2013–was released in February and April 2022. The report was a grim warning of the impact of climate change but also presented a pathway to reduce emissions and adapt to the changing weather.
The IPCC’s warnings played out in South Asia in form of record-breaking extreme weather events, from the floods in Pakistan that displaced 7 million people, heat-waves in India that killed more than 90 people and Cyclone Sitrang that displaced 1 million more people in Bangladesh causing more and more loss and damage, as the global greenhouse gases show no signs of reduction.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a global energy crisis but instead of taking the path of renewable energy and reduced consumption, the rich countries are reneging on their commitments to the Paris Agreement and are digging and burning more fossil fuels than ever.
In November, countries across the world met for the 27th Conference of Parties in Egypt (COP27), where they adopted the Sharm el-Sheikh implementation plan on climate action. Unfortunately the plan falls short of the required scale and urgency to achieve the Paris Agreement and limit global temperatures below 1.5 C. As things stand now we have to prepare for the worst of climate change impacts.
But even as things appear to be worsening, there is hope, especially if one was to look at the resolve and actions of the civil society and non-governmental actors in forcing the rich countries to agree to set up a Loss and Damage fund at COP27 and take responsibility for their historical emissions that has brought the world to the brink of devastation.
This one win has demonstrated what we can achieve together. COP27 may have failed to meet its objectives as an “Implementation COP” or an “African COP”, but one thing it did was show the power of the civil society in steering multilateral climate negotiations even as they continue with much needed work on the ground to prepare their citizens to adapt and survive the ravages of the changing weather.
In this latest edition of CANSA newsletter, we are sharing with you some of the work done by us and our esteemed partners in the last quarter of 2022 that began with COP27 and ended with CANSA’s partnering with youth and women’s organisations in the region to frame and steer our work on climate justice in 2023.
On behalf of CANSA Secretariat, I wish you all a very Happy and Safe New Year!
Sanjay Vashist
Director, CAN South Asia
SOUTH ASIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND CITIES SEE THE NEED FOR A FOSSIL FUEL TREATY
Recently 11 Indian Parliamentarians from across political parties endorsed the call to develop a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. They are: Uttama Kumar Reddy (INC, Telangana), Sridhar Kotagiri (YRS Congress, Andhra Pradesh), PV Mithun Reddy (YRS Congress, Andhra Pradesh), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP, Bihar), Kamlesh Paswan (BJP, Uttar Pradesh), Gaurav Gogoi (INC, Assam), Rajani Ashokrao Patil (INC, Maharashtra), Vincent H Pala (INC, Meghalaya), Dr. Aimee Yajnik (INC, Gujarat), Sunita Duggal (BJP, Haryana) and Dr. Pritam Gopinath Munde (BJP, Maharashtra). Read the press release at: https://cansouthasia.net/11-indian-parliamentarians-endorse-the-call-for-a-fossil-fuel-non-proliferation-treaty/
CANSA along with Climate Parliament reached out to parliamentarians in South Asia (India, Nepal and Bangladesh) and explained the need for an equitable, phase-out of fossil fuels in the South Asian region. Their efforts have borne fruit, and now a total of 31 parliamentarians have endorsed the Treaty. Earlier this year in September, 10 MPs from Nepal and another 10 from Bangladesh also endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty.
CANSA’s efforts in engaging with cities led to Kolkata’s endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty in September 2022. This in turn brought a request to work with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on a Kolkata Climate Action Plan in order to plan a mid-term strategy for the city to realise just energy transition.
PRESS RELEASE – https://cansouthasia.net/11-indian-parliamentarians-endorse-the-call-for-a-fossil-fuel-non-proliferation-treaty/
TOGETHER FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Debasish Kumar, MLA and Member, Board of Administrators of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), and ex-Mayor in Council of KMC, speaking at our side event ‘Climate Resilience Ensuring equity and justice for poor in Urban development’ on 14 November.
CANSA and its partners will work closely with the city planners to develop a Climate Resilient Kolkata plan in 2023. This request came as a result of practical action that led to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s endorsement of Fossil Fuel Treaty in September 2022, aiming to realise a mid-term strategy for the city for a just energy transition.
Mainstreaming gender and child rights in climate actions, 27-28 November 2022, Kathmandu
31 participants were present in the workshop, representing Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal. There was participation from 18 civil society organizations namely Voice of Bangladesh, Care Bangladesh, Actionaid Bangladesh, BARCIK, SDS, YPSA, CPRD, Pariwartak, Youth Climate Network, Janathakshan, Ecohimal Nepal, Oxfam Nepal, KIRDARC, Prakriti Resource Centre, Clean Energy Nepal, NYCA, Save the Children- Asia Pacific, Save the Children Nepal, UNICEF ROSA and CANSA including three very vibrant youth network representation. The workshop focussed on developing common understanding of CSOs and youth groups on the impact of climate change in South Asia and then building on how our existing programmes on climate change are integrating gender and child rights.
Youth groups were given the floor to showcase their work on climate change and their suggestions and action plan to take this work forward. Suggestions were sought on how they feel they can work collaboratively with CSOs and bring visibility to women and youth voices from local areas to national, regional and global forums. For details, see link below:
https://cansouthasia.net/mainstreaming-gender-and-child-rights-in-climate-actions/
The main goal of this project is to build capacity of CANSA partners to incorporate, strengthen and amplify the voices of women and children, and provide solutions to mainstreaming gender and child rights in climate action at the country level in the South Asian region. More details about the project at: https://cansouthasia.net/global-civil-society-strengthening-program/
For updates on Upcoming Events,
do check the following section on our website:
https://cansouthasia.net/upcoming-events/
CANSA SIDE EVENTS
Global Goal on Adaptation: Delivering justice to the vulnerable communities and countries 9 November 2022
Recognizing that adaptation is a globally relevant issue, the Global Goal on Adaptation needs to encompass adequate finance and fair share of mitigation action from the developed world. The side event brought together a panel of experts to unpack and clarify the asks for COP27 – defining and operationalising it for the people.
https://cansouthasia.net/global-goal-on-adaptation-delivering-justice-to-the-vulnerable-communities-and-countries/
Climate Resilience – Ensuring equity and justice for poor in urban development, 14 November 2022
The discussion highlighted the plight of urban poor in South Asia who are facing loss & damage due to climate change, largely due to limited financial and tech capacity of countries to build climate- resilient infrastructure. Aiming to advocate equity in financing a just & inclusive urban development that ensures our cities become net carbon negative”.
https://cansouthasia.net/climate-resilience-ensuring-equity-and-justice-for-poor-in-urban-development/
Parliamentarians for Regional Cooperation for Climate Change
South Asian Parliamentarians Roundtable on Regional Energy Cooperation at COP27: The Roundtable organised by our partner Climate Parliament, helped in bringing together the region’s parliamentarians who unanimously agreed on the urgent need for multidimensional regional energy cooperation and a conducive environment for rapid energy transition to help the entire region achieve their climate goals. A long-term and continuous coordination among South Asian governments is necessary for long-term energy cooperation.
https://www.climateparl.net/post/south-asian-parliamentarians-meet-at-cop-27-to-advance-regional-energy-cooperation
Time To Pay Up: Seeking Accountability At COP 27
Youtube Video link
“It’s time to incentivise renewable energy and energy transition & it’s time to penalize high emission interventions by corporations” – Sanjay Vashist, Director, CANSA, from COP27 on solutions India needs to work on to reach sustainability goals.
Hybrid Event: Decoding COP27: Walking Towards the Road to Implementation. 5 December 2022
Prior to the conclusion of negotiations, COP27 was hailed as “a make-or-break moment” and an opportunity to move from ambitious targets to policy implementation. Several key outcomes have highlighted some progress towards climate action. However, even successes that seemed difficult to imagine only a few years ago still fall short of where we need to be to guarantee a 1.5°C pathway.
Towards this, Sphere India in collaboration with CANSA and other partners are organizing a hybrid event on ‘Decoding COP27: Walking towards the Road to Implementation’ to understand the key discussion points of COP27, ideate on the critical way forward, and ultimately devise an action plan for India/South Asia. Read more at:
https://cansouthasia.net/decoding-cop27-walking-towards-the-road-to-implementation/
Reflections after COP27: Eco-Village Development, Climate Mitigation and Development, 22 December 2022
Eco-Village Development is a concept that combines a number of local solutions that assist villagers in South Asia with solutions for better access to energy and other development aspects in ways that contribute to climate actions and a development towards a low-carbon society. The webinar highlighted how these local solutions can contribute to reduce emissions and to other climate objectives. The webinar also included a status of how local solutions can be prioritised in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and in national climate plans after the decisions at COP27 in November 2022. Read more at: https://cansouthasia.net/reflections-after-cop27-eco-village-development-climate-mitigation-and-development/
Post-COP27 Press Conference: Bangladesh Should Lead the Process of Developing a Framework for Loss and Damage Finance Facility
A group of Bangladeshi CSOs, led by COAST Foundation organized a media sharing event on the outcomes of recently held 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) of the UNFCCC. The group comprising the representatives of CANSA and CANSA Bangladesh, Center for Participatory Research and Development-CPRD, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods. For details, read more at:
https://cansouthasia.net/bangladesh-should-lead-the-process-of-developing-a-framework-for-loss-damage-finance-facility/
AFGHANISTAN
Resilience, Emergency and Humanitarian Aid (REHA) Organization
NEPAL
CBM Global Disability Inclusion Nepal
www.cbm-global.org
People In Need (PIN)
https://nepal.peopleinneed.net/en/
Wishing our new members a very warm welcome to the CANSA family!
HCN Briefing: A Just Energy Transition for a healthy fossil fuel free world
A just energy transition is increasingly viewed as important in confronting the energy and climate crises. The G7, along with middle-income partners including India, Indonesia, and South Africa, is looking to establish Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) to support coal phase-out1. Just energy transition is also a core demand among those calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty2, which envisions a decisive phase-out of all fossil fuel production and use. This briefing reviews health benefits available through an effective just energy transition and presents key principles and policy recommendations needed to deliver a clean energy future for thriving healthy societies.
https://cansouthasia.net/hcn-briefing-a-just-energy-transition-for-a-healthy-fossil-fuel-free-world/
Children of India’s burning coalfields dream of a fire-free future
Context | 13th Dec 2022
Read here…
Explained: Why COP27’s ‘Loss And Damage’ Fund Is Significant
Boom | 23rd Nov 2022
Read here…
UN climate summit fails the world
The Third Pole | 21st Nov 2022
Read here…
Time To Pay Up: Seeking Accountability At COP 27
Youtube.com | 16th Nov 2022
Watch here…
Rich countries to fulfil the financing gap to climate action for MVCs and LDCs
The Finance Today | 15th Nov 2022
Read here…
Rich countries urged to fulfil financing gap for climate action
Daily Observer | 15th Nov 2022
Read here…
Rich countries urged to fulfil financing gap for climate action
The Financial Express | 15th Nov 2022
Read here…
Rich countries urged to fulfil financing gap for climate action
The Business Standard | 13th Nov 2022
Read here..
https://cansouthasia.net/resources/cansa-in-the-news/
Multilateral Climate Actions Workshop brings forth issues on gender and child rights
by Divyanshi Yadav
With bated breath, I entered the huge meeting room of the beautiful Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal. The previous night, I had a nearly sleepless night, tossing and turning, with so many questions plaguing me about the workshop, whether some of the most impactful civil society organizations from across the Indian subcontinent have healthy debates on how we can mainstream gender and child rights in climate actions? Would the biggest organizations like Voice of South Bangladesh, Actionaid Bangladesh, CPRD, Oxfam Nepal, UNICEF ROSA and many more dominate the discussions, leaving the youth and the smaller organizations unheard?
An analysis on the funding arrangements for addressing Loss and Damage agreed at COP27
by Md. Shamshuddoha
The decision on the establishment of ‘new funding arrangements’ for responding to as well as addressing loss and damages is a significant achievement at COP 27. Having a stand-alone L&D financing facility is indeed a great victory, however the decision text seems very tactical that requires a comprehensive understanding on its different elements and dimension.
Practical Action, Nepal: Video on Impacts of climate change and understanding loss and damage
The video is prepared by Practical Action in Nepal for Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance (ZFRA).
https://twitter.com/floodalliance/status/1590657015998599168
In lower Karnali, people experience impacts of climate change – in terms of late monsoon that causes unseasonal floods during paddy harvest time. It leads to loss and damage and impacts livelihood of communities resulting in food insecurity. The video appeals to the parties to scale up finance and support to avert, minimize and address loss and damage in these communities.
Understanding loss and damage story slide link can be found here.
Events from ActionAid Bangladesh
During September-November, CSOs in Bangladesh, including ActionAid Bangladesh, came together under CANSA network to voice CSO’s position towards COP27 and beyond. A series of events such as a workshop, roundtable, press briefing were conducted to prepare the position paper on Loss and Damage: Report here: https://cprdbd.org/csos-position-on-climate-diplomacy-towards-cop-27/
On 13 October 2022, the third CANSA Bangladesh National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting was held. The NSC examined its agenda for COP27 as well as its advocacy tactics to support the Bangladeshi government and prepare it for a stronger showing at COP27 with sufficient evidence of loss and damage and other climate-related concerns. Additionally, the members coordinated their efforts before and during COP-27 to organize themselves for a united front to the cause of Loss and Damage.
At COP 27, ActionAid Bangladesh was a part of series of side events; including “Addressing loss & damage to deliver climate justice: youth, gender & faith leaders’ perspectives” with CANSA, Christian Aid, Caritas, and ACT-Church of Sweden, “Localised Solutions to Reduce Climate Induced Loss & Damage for the Most Vulnerable”, This is what leadership looks like: Women taking collective action in the face of the climate crisis, as well as “Global Day of Action”.
Society of Experts on Environment Development (SEED) organized a series of webinars during COP27 to follow the negotiation. ActionAid Bangladesh was in the final webinar of the series titled “Reflections on the outcomes of COP27”. Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, provided an update on implementation of COP27 decisions and the critical need for increased involvement of women and young people in leadership roles in COP deliberations.
Knowledge Products from ActionAid Bangladesh
In an editorial for The Daily Star, Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, discussed the effects of human-induced climate change and the dire need for funding for Loss & Damage, ahead of COP27. Link: https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/cop27-must-commit-loss-and-damage-finance-3164836?fbclid=IwAR2H6pyLujHYXKReDJ1mdWfNpdbrNhDQMtCInao4xoWXpkX4xLZGvDi_MAY
Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh penned two insightful blogs: one before COP27 to highlight the demands – Will COP27 be another tick mark event while the world burns due to climate crisis? and one as a reflection of COP27 – “COP 27 in Retrospective: A COP of Loss and Damage”.
Labour Spring Organization (LSO), Afghanistan: Empowering communities for peace and social cohesion in Jawzjan province
Villagers in Erakly have been in conflict with each other for unequal distribution of water, due to only one well of drinking water. LSO and ABADEI-UNDP project on Solar pipe scheme for the village allows for supply of water simultaneously that flows into storage facility within two mosques as a distribution point through the pipeline. The project has benefited 300 families in Erakly CDC for drinking water supply, and resolved the conflict over drinking water.
Taj Mohammad, an Erakly elder, confessed, “Lack of clean water caused diarrhoea and other diseases, and outbreak of cholera in the village recently. Solar pipe scheme project made our dream come true for safe drinking water for all 300 families”, for which he thanked LSO and UNDP for their support.
Labour Spring Organization (LSO), Afghanistan: Rehabilitation of irrigation canal brings hope to rural Afghans – Sultuq Khurd, Jawzan Province
The Sultuq Khurd irrigation canal of 12 km was cleaned from Amu Darya river to Sultuq Khurd, and involved nearly 75 residents of surrounding villages, who were employed on a cash-for-work basis and/or paid in cash by LSO. As result of this, 75 families directly benefited from this project.
With UNDP’s support, LSO has made it possible to rehabilitate this 12 km of irrigation canal of Sultuq Khurd in Khawaja Da Ko district. The rehabilitation of irrigation canal provides irrigation water for 1200 families who now cultivate vegetables and fruits in 30 hectares of farmland simultaneously. Implementation of the canal cleaning project proved as an effective practice in community recovery and development. Replication and upscaling of this project will further contribute towards empowerment of communities to promote peace, social cohesion and organization in the long-term.
Nawa-i-Nai Afghan Women Development Organization: Conservation of Nuristan National Park, project with UNDP
Nawa-i-Nai Afghan Women Development Organization, in partnership with UNDP completed the conservation of Nuristan National Park project by promoting clean energy and alternative livelihoods opportunity in Eastern Afghanistan. The project supported 500 women headed families with distribution of 30,000 walnut saplings for homebased nursery establishment and 500 solar cookers to reduce the use of wood gathered from the National Park. An amount of USD 70 per family was also given for their urgent needs. The project helped generate livelihoods in the targeted areas. Each member of the community was trained in using and repairing of solar cookers to reduce their dependency on fuel for their heating purposes. The planted fruit saplings increased greenery of the National Park and contributed towards empowerment of women through livelihoods and nutrition status in the longer term.
“Farm ponds for securing agriculture in rainfed regions: A call for sustainable approaches”, 20 November 2022
WOTR and its research unit (W-CReS), the National Rainfed Area Authority and the Collaborative ECOBARI jointly hosted a webinar to discuss a way forward where sustainability of our water resources and its equitable use will drive the benefits for our farming community, in this climate change scenario, particularly in the underlying hard rock aquifer rainfed regions of our country.
The growing concern for meeting the water needs for agriculture in India is felt at all levels, as the country faces extreme climate events. On the one hand there are high intensity short duration showers and /or unseasonal rains, on the other hand the delayed onset of the monsoon, prolonged dry spells between rainy days that affect the kharif crops during the key growing stages. Drought and drought-like conditions are also experienced.
Promoting FPOs for resilient incomes and sustainable farming practices in India
The workshop on ‘Promoting FPOs for resilient incomes’ aimed to understand FPOs in India, address emerging challenges and concerns, and improve stakeholder dialogue. FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) or FPCs (Farmer Producer Companies) provide farmers a better bargaining position with respect to the market by pooling resources and benefiting from economies of scale. Government initiatives have boosted prospects for FPOs, but they face challenges in becoming financially viable, including understanding complex markets, accessing financial support, and building capacity.
Used Water Management in India – Challenges and Opportunities
In view of recent guidelines issued by CPHEEO and given the importance of the subject in various national programmes and missions, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) organized a webinar on “Used Water Management – Challenges & Opportunities”. This webinar was a part of series of activities envisaged under 3-year duration CSE – NMCG collaborative programme – ‘Capacity building initiative focusing on Making Ganga basin cities water sensitive’. It aimed to build the knowledge about concepts and potential of Used Water Management.
CPRD, Bangladesh: CSO’s Call On The Human Rights Day 2022: Respect, Promote And Consider Human Rights In All Climate Actions, 20 December 2022
A press event titled “CSO’s Call on Human Rights Day 2022: Respect, Promote and Consider Human Rights in all Climate Actions by CPRD. As the Chair of the event, Mr. Shamsuddoha said, CPRD is in search of different and multi-faceted vulnerability at individual and community level in different regions affected by climate change. Several research and investigation activities have already been conducted by CPRD. We have seen in the studies that climate change is creating obstacles in the access of the affected communities to food, water, clothing, shelter, medical care, education and above all depriving the affected communities of the right to live a quality life.
https://cprdbd.org/csos-call-on-the-human-rights-day-2022/
